Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

पद्मरागमणिप्रख्यं वृत्तभीषणलोचनम् । वृत्तदीर्घमहागात्रं स्तब्धकर्णस्थलोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

padmarāgamaṇiprakhyaṃ vṛttabhīṣaṇalocanam | vṛttadīrghamahāgātraṃ stabdhakarṇasthalojjvalam

Translation

Er leuchtete wie ein Rubinjuwel; seine Augen waren rund und ehrfurchtgebietend. Sein großer Leib war gerundet und lang, und die Gegend seiner Ohren glänzte, fest und aufgerichtet.

Word by Word

• padma-rāga-maṇi-prakhyam: like a padmarāga gem
• padma-rāga-maṇi-prakhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (padmarāga-maṇi ‘ruby/garnet gem’ + prakhya ‘like’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vṛtta-bhīṣaṇa-locanam: with round, fearsome eyes
• vṛtta-bhīṣaṇa-locanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt + क्त) + bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (rounded and terrifying eyes); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vṛtta-dīrgha-mahā-gātram: with a rounded, long, massive body
• vṛtta-dīrgha-mahā-gātram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt + क्त) + dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (rounded, long, huge-limbed/body); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• stabdha-karṇa-sthala-ujjvalam: bright at the stiff/erect ear-region
• stabdha-karṇa-sthala-ujjvalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stabdha (कृदन्त; √stambh + क्त) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (stabdha-karṇa-sthala ‘rigid/erect ear-region’ + ujjvala ‘bright’); नपuंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse uses sacred visual imagery to steady the mind on the Lord’s manifest (saguṇa) presence—an aid to bhakti and dhyāna—so the devotee’s awareness can be drawn from worldly fear to reverent awe and inner stillness before Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While Liṅga worship often emphasizes the formless Absolute (niṣkala), this verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā by describing perceivable attributes that devotees may contemplate, which then culminates in reverence for the same Shiva who is also realized as the transcendent Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is rūpa-dhyāna (form-meditation): visualize Shiva’s radiant presence while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally after applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa to support steadiness of mind.